People with these surnames in UK could have unclaimed estates

You may want to check if your name is on a new list that has just been released, shwoing a number of estates in England and Wales that are unclaimed. According to the UK Government’s latest update on May 19, 2025, there are over 6,000 names on the Bona Vacantia Division’s register.

These estates often have savings, property and other assets which can be legally claimed by living relatives. However, this can only happen if the family comes forward in time.

Because of this time-sensitive deadline, Darren Gallagher, property expert and founder of Elite Realty Invest, is encouraging the public to check whether their family name appears on the list.

He stresses that many people are unaware they could be entitled to an inheritance saying: “Most people don’t know they could be the rightful heir to an estate, especially if a distant relative died without a will.

"We see this time and time again - properties, cash, assets – all left in limbo because nobody thought to check.”

The team at Elite Realty Invest have dug into the data and listed the top 10 British surnames with unclaimed estates in 2025

Rank

Surname

Approx. Number of Unclaimed Estates

1

Smith

129

2

Jones

86

3

Taylor

54

4

Brown

50

5

Williams

45

6

Johnson

40

7

Davies

38

8

Evans

35

9

Thomas

33

10

Roberts

30

This table represents just a small number of people on the list - and there are many more that could be sitting on an unclaimed estate and not know it. The property expert explained that when someone passes away and they do not have will and no known next of kin, their estate is held by the Crown for up to 30 years and during this period, eligible relatives have the legal right to claim their inheritance.

• The Government publishes a free daily-updated list here
• You can search by surname and region
• If you spot a match, you may need to provide evidence of your relationship to the deceased
• Professional help can make the process easier and faster

Gallagher concludes: "This isn’t just a legal loophole - it’s people’s legacy. We help individuals identify legitimate claims and take the pressure off what can feel like a complex system."